Watching Monday night tv and messing around on my phone last night, I received the sad news that a Shreveport-Bossier and Texarkana legend of broadcasting passed away. That was Bob Griffin.
Like you who were raised in this area, I also grew up with Bob Griffin on the television. He hosted the kiddie show ‘Bob And His Buddies’, on KSLA Channel 12. At that time, the show aired at 7 AM, before school. Now, this was before 12 put up a new antenna that covered the northern viewing area better, so it was a chore if you wanted to watch the show. You had to move the rabbit ears a certain way, in order to see it, with less snow on the screen. But I did make an effort. I always thought that Bob was funny and pretty cool. I remember that straw hat of his that he wore. He said that he had a talking alligator in it. I remember bits and pieces of shows. One morning, I vividly remember a young beauty pageant (maybe for Miss Louisiana) appearing on the program. She sang a selection from ‘Porgy and Bess’. I remember that she was really good. I also remember the expression on Griffin’s face. He was absolutely enthralled by this young woman.
Later on, a person couldn’t NOT see Bob Griffin on the tube. Not only was he the Sports Director for KSLA for many, many years…he was also the weatherman, and at the same time, too. That is unheard of in today’s broadcasting world. But that was Bob…a trailblazer and a ground-breaker for others coming up in the industry.
Bob even got a Second Act in television, at retirement age. In 2008, he went on to KTBS Channel 3, where he was the morning weekend anchor for the news. He also became a sports contributor, and had a news series, ‘Living the Good Life’. That one covered travel, people in retirement doing interesting things, and more. That led to Bob and his wife Denise co-hosting cruises and trips with Channel 3 viewers. He had yet another radio career on KEEL 710 AM, discussing travel. There wasn’t much that Bob Griffin couldn’t or wouldn’t do, to stay in the game.
I met Bob when I worked at KWKH. One day, I mentioned on the air that I had lost my gas cap to my car. Thinking I was smart, I said that I had stuffed a rag in the opening, to keep my gas from evaporating. My control room phone rang immediately. “Fabienne, Bob Griffin here. Do you know how dangerous stuffing a rag into that tank is? When you crank the engine, the rag can be sucked down into there, causing major problems. Do you want to blow up? Then I suggest that you go out to the parking lot and get that outta there, right now!” As soon as we rang off, I did exactly what he said to do, too. To this day, I don’t know if I was more impressed that Bob Griffin cared to call me on that, or for the mere fact that Bob was listening to my show!
Many years later, my morning partner and friend Danny Fox passed away. We held his services, right behind the KWKH studios on Westport Avenue. I thought that the memorial was over until Bob stood up and said, ‘Fabienne, I have to say something.’ So Bob spoke to the crowd about how Fox had set up his website and put him on social media…how much he loved and appreciated Danny/Wayne and that he loved and appreciated all of us, too. That’s when I teared up. Bob just CARED about people. That has always impressed me about him.
Several years ago, Bob Griffin became a Christian. He accepted the Lord and went to work for Him, too, at Emmanuel Baptist Church. He and Denise taught Sunday School and are big ‘do-ers’.
Yesterday, Bob Griffin left us. But you know? He left this place, better than he found it. And that is the best thing that anyone of us can do on Earth.
So long, Bob. Meet up with all of your Buddies, especially Danny Fox/Wayne. You’ve left many, many Buddies here, who will miss you greatly. Including me.